Hunter's Montana Bride (Montana Ranchers and Brides #8) (15 page)

"Wait," Hunter said. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Gretchen nodded. "I am indeed."

"You're telling me that the young man...imposed himself?"

Gretchen frowned. "That's one way of putting it, Hunter. I could also say he behaved like a low life."

"And Benjamin is the result?" Hunter asked.

"And a beautiful, sweet little boy he is," Gretchen said.

Hunter released his hold on Gretchen and took a step back, running a hand though his dark hair. Gretchen could see the warring emotions in his eyes. "What happened to Benjamin's father?" he said after a long pause.

Gretchen sighed. "His family were moving to another state and it seems that the disreputable man decided he had no further obligations to my dear cousin Alice. One day she went to visit with him and found he was gone. Simply gone. Never to be seen again. Leaving my cousin with a serious problem to deal with. And no-one willing to support her during the months of her impending confinement."

Hunter frowned and shook his head. "And all this happened a year ago?"

Gretchen nodded. "I received a letter from Alice the day after our wedding. She pleaded with me to go East and help her to work things out. She demanded that I tell no-one of her predicament. Not even those closest to me," Gretchen said. She looked into Hunter's eyes. "Not even you, Hunter," she said.

Gretchen saw Hunter's jaw tighten. "I just could not refuse such a desperate cry for help from someone who meant so much to me," she concluded.

"Why didn't she just come West?" Hunter asked.

Gretchen shook her head. "Perhaps it was Alice's own strong sense of pride? Refusal to admit her own weakness? I don't know. When I eventually arrived back East I tried everything I could to persuade her. But she wouldn't come here and live with my parents, despite the offer being made. She was ashamed. And determined."

Hunter sighed and glanced along the platform. Gretchen could see the sympathy fill his eyes.

"But then a surprising thing happened while I was there. I discovered I was with child. This placed me in a difficult position. I could not abandon Alice while she prepared to give birth and she had sworn me to absolute secrecy about the entire affair. Until such time as we could arrive at a solution to her predicament that would be good for her and her child."

"Why didn't you just write and let me know?" Hunter asked.

"I wasn't about to write such a letter to you. I had no idea what kind of madness would seize you. Perhaps the news would have caused you to abandon the ranch and come in search of me. Then you would inevitably discover the real reason that I was with Alice."

Hunter shook his head, starting to disagree.

"I had given Alice my word. My sworn promise that no-one would know until she was absolutely ready. I gave her my word, Hunter. You know how much that means to me," Gretchen said leaning close to Hunter.

Hunter sighed. "But you could have given me some kind of clue. Let me know you were safe."

"I did. My mother told you repeatedly that I would return. Surely you took comfort in that?"

"I did. But it wasn't enough. I needed more," he said.

"I know, Hunter," she said grasping his arm. "But I had no choice."

"So why didn't you return after Alice had Benjamin?"

"I couldn't. My own pregnancy had progressed so far that I was not willing to risk the long journey home. Especially alone. So I decided to wait and give birth back East. Alice was a great help to me," Gretchen said. "I really had no choice, Hunter. You can see that can't you?"

Hunter's eyes narrowed and his lips tightened into a thin line. "How could you have gone through that without my help?" he asked.

Gretchen frowned. "Even in Montana, men aren't usually present at the birth of the their children," she said.

"That's not what I mean. I'm talking about the months before that. When the twins were growing inside you. I never had the chance to take care of you. Make sure you were okay."

Gretchen smiled at him, warmth suddenly filling her heart. "But you have the chance to do that now, Hunter. Every day from now on," she said.

Hunter nodded and tried to smile, but she could see the confusion in his eyes. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the twitching muscle on his jaw. This wasn't easy for him to accept. It hadn't been easy for Gretchen to be separated from her husband under such unusual circumstances. But the results had been three healthy, beautiful children. Hannah. Lewis. Benjamin. And wasn't that all that mattered?

"What are you thinking, Hunter?" she asked him, not even sure that she really wanted an answer to the question.

Hunter looked at Gretchen and then along the platform. "Your cousin is planning to stay in Montana?"

Gretchen nodded. "We all think that's what best for her. A new start."

"Where's she going to live?"

Gretchen reached over and took Hunter's arm once again. "Well. That's the thing. I was thinking that Alice and Benjamin could stay with us for a while," she said.

Hunter's eyes widened. "With us?"

Gretchen nodded. "The ranch is big enough, for now. Don't you think?"

Hunter hesitated. "I suppose so. We've got enough rooms. But what's Alice planning in the longer term?" he asked.

Gretchen glanced along the platform. Alice and her parents were chatting, but it was clear from Alice's expression that she was feeling some concern about how long Gretchen and Hunter were taking to discuss the situation.

"This is a new start for Alice," Gretchen said. "It's a big thing she's trying to do. Give her and Benjamin a new start in a place where people won't judge her like they do back East. Maybe Chloe, Abby, Elise and I can help find a husband for her."

Gretchen saw Hunter nod. She knew he'd seen how Nathan's wife Abby had overcome problems of coming from the other side of the country. Abby had found things hard to begin with, but now she was really settled down and living a happy life with Nathan and the children. Gretchen knew in her heart that it was possible for Alice to find happiness in Montana. It might even mean that she could find a husband to be happy with, someone who could be a good father to Benjamin. Anything was possible in this wonderful place.

Hunter nodded. "I guess you're right. I mean, look at all the wives these ranchers have found in recent times. Nathan, Devlin and Trent have sure done well for themselves."

Gretchen drew closer to Hunter. "Haven't we done well for ourselves too, Hunter?"

She saw his eyes light up in that special way they did when she touched his heart with something she said. "You're right, Gretchen," he said, leaning in closer toward her. She caught the scent of leather and soap that was becoming so familiar every time she got close to her husband.

Gretchen composed herself quickly. It wouldn't do for Alice to see Gretchen and Hunter kissing on the platform.

"What do say, Hunter. Shall Alice and Benjamin come back to the ranch?"

He nodded quickly. "There's going to be a heck of a lot of baby noise back at ranch HG," he said with a smile.

Gretchen punched Hunter playfully on the arm. "I thought you liked the sounds of baby noise," she teased.

Hunter rubbed his arm and his brows narrowed playfully. "You know that we're not going to get much sleep, don't you?"

Gretchen reached up and laid her hands gently upon her husband's shoulders. "Who said anything about us getting sleep?" she murmured.

Hunter's face turned a subtle shade of red. "Well...you know what I meant," he mumbled.

Gretchen peered up into his eyes. "Of course I know what you meant."

Gretchen went up on her toes and planted a quick kiss on Hunter's cheek. "Now, let's go and give Alice the news that she's going to living at the ranch for a while," she said.

They both turned and Gretchen once again hooked an arm into the crook of the arm that Hunter offered her. Looking further along the platform she could see that Alice's expression had changed as she guessed that Gretchen's talk with Hunter had gone well.

And as she walked arm in arm with her husband, a feeling of relief swept through Gretchen. Hunter had taken the explanation better than she could have hoped for. It couldn't have been easy for him to accept such an account of what Alice and Gretchen had been through. But she was glad that he had taken it so well.

Perhaps they all had a good future to look forward to. Maybe she had underestimated just how mature Hunter had become during her absence. In any case, it all boded well for their future as a family, out here in Montana, in the only place she'd ever felt they belonged.

It felt good to hold onto Hunter. And she knew that it would feel even better to be by his side for the rest of her life.

EPILOGUE

Hunter hammered the last nail into the wooden plank, the final thing that needed to be done to complete the extension to the ranch house. He looked down from the top of the ladder. Gretchen's smiling face gazed up at him. The twins were inside with Mrs. Roper. As was Alice and Benjamin. These last few weeks had certainly been interesting.

"Is that it, then?" she asked.

"All done. Finally. Thought I'd never get the darned thing finished," he said dangling the hammer by his side. He gazed along the white painted wooden panels lining the exterior of the side of the ranch house. He'd done a good job, he thought to himself. It turned out he was quite the craftsman, after all. It had only taken him almost a year since beginning the work. And there had been times when he'd doubted his sanity for doing it, given the fact that his wife had gone and there weren't enough people living in the house to fill all the rooms.

But that had all changed now. Right now the house was full to the brim. The way it was meant to be. It felt right.

Hunter looked down and smiled at Gretchen. Yes. Things were so much better now. There were four adults and three children to fill up the house. That felt good, just thinking about it.

"You must be tired," Gretchen said.

Hunter wiped the sweat from his brow and gazed up at the sun. It sure was a hot day. He could do with a drink.

"I am a mighty bit thirsty, now you mention it," he said.

Gretchen gestured to Hunter. "Come down here. I've got a pitcher of lemonade on the porch table," she said.

"That sounds real nice," Hunter said starting down the ladder.

On reaching the ground he swept Gretchen into his arms and gazed deep into her eyes. "How did you know I'd need lemonade?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know," she said smiling. "Just a hunch."

Hunter turned and looked at his handiwork. "What do you think?"

Gretchen cocked her head to one side, furrowed her brow and pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Maybe some of the work could have done with a professional hand," she teased smiling at him.

Hunter pulled her tighter to him and leaned in close. He raised his eyebrows. "What do mean?" he drawled. "This is the best darned building work in Montana," he declared. "And you are the most beautiful woman in Montana." Hunter gazed into Gretchen's eyes, seeing the emotion welling up in them. He would never tire of telling her just how much he loved her. Never.

As he pulled Gretchen even closer to him he felt her draw ever so slightly away from him. Hunter looked at her for a second, puzzlement filling his eyes. "What is it?" he asked.

Gretchen looked deep into his eyes and he was suddenly sure she was about to say something. But then she seemed to check herself, fixing some stray hairs back into place that lay across the side of her face. "That lemonade will be getting warm," she said.

"Let me see if your lips are just as warm," he said leaning in and kissing her. He felt Gretchen soften in his embrace. It was a feeling that he liked very much. The idea that he would have her all to himself from this moment on just filled his heart with a sudden physical joy. Hunter inhaled the sweet scent of her skin. It was an intoxicating scent that always made his senses tingle. And now was no exception.

When their lips parted he looked deep into her eyes. "I love you, Gretchen," he whispered.

She reached up and stroked his hair with the back of her slim fingers. "And I love you so much, Hunter," she said, her eyes bright and shining.

They walked over toward the porch. Hunter kept his arm wrapped around Gretchen's waist as they moved together. He flopped down into the seat while she poured the lemonade into a glass. She handed it to him and sat down by his side on the long wooden seat. Hunter took a sip and pursed his lips quickly. "That sure is sweet," he said in surprise.

"I know that's the way you like it," Gretchen said.

Hunter looked out across the plain and into the far distance. The mountains always looked beautiful on days like this. However, with his beautiful wife by his side and the knowledge that inside the house there two little treasures awaiting their father, everything out there in the wilds of Montana looked so much more intense, even more wonderful than usual.

Hunter saw Gretchen place her hands in her lap and he got the distinct impression she was composing herself.

"Everything okay?" he asked her.

Gretchen nodded, her lips tight.

Hunter put the glass on the table. "Is there something bothering you?" he asked.

"No. There's nothing bothering me. Quite the contrary, in fact," she said, a smile edging to the corners of her mouth.

Hunter tried to suppress a smile himself. "What is it, Gretchen. You got something to tell me?" laughter bubbling into his voice.

Her eye lit up. "It's funny you should say that," she said. "I do have some news to give you."

Hunter felt a sharp pang of nerves take hold of him. He looked at Gretchen, but held back the words that came to the front of his mind.

Gretchen turned to Hunter and looked at him directly. "It appears that we will needing the use of that extra room, after all," she said.

"Do you mean..." Hunter started to say, but Gretchen interrupted him.

"I mean exactly that. We are going to have a brother or sister for our twins," she said.

Hunter felt a rush of emotion inside himself. His legs went numb and just knew that his jaw had dropped. He started to reach to take hold of his wonderful wife. "You're going to have a baby?"